Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
BP‘s Ever-Growing
Oil Spill
RWE
AMPRION
ELIA
FACC
ESL SHIPPING
ALBERT ZIEGLER
Innovation and thinking ahead have always been high priorities Sandra Bojić
for nkt cables – both in terms of environmental responsibility and
nkt cables group GmbH
Sales and Marketing
finding creative processes, products and complete solutions. We
develop, manufacture and market power cables and cable systems
Carlswerk - 1.7 Labor Director of M-Profil d.o.o.
Schanzenstrasse 6-20
for electrical installations as well as for electricity distribution and D-51063 Cologne
transmission. Within development of catenary railway systems we Tel: +49 (0) 221 676-0
are among the world leaders. Read more on nktcables.com www.nktcables.com
We lead the way in
innovative cable solutions trade investment
June~July | 2010 € 6,90 | www.trade-investment.eu
BP‘s Ever-Growing
Oil Spill
RWE
AMPRION
ELIA
FACC
ESL SHIPPING
ALBERT ZIEGLER
Innovation and thinking ahead have always been high priorities Sandra Bojić
for nkt cables – both in terms of environmental responsibility and
nkt cables group GmbH
Sales and Marketing
finding creative processes, products and complete solutions. We
develop, manufacture and market power cables and cable systems
Carlswerk - 1.7 Labor Director of M-Profil d.o.o.
Schanzenstrasse 6-20
for electrical installations as well as for electricity distribution and D-51063 Cologne
transmission. Within development of catenary railway systems we Tel: +49 (0) 221 676-0
are among the world leaders. Read more on nktcables.com www.nktcables.com
Re-energising
Business
I was recently discussing the energy market with a ment and investment continue to explore our
former colleague and in error referred to the options. The oil spill crisis in America has generated
process of ‘making energy’. Of course, he picked some highly charged rhetoric on the subject of
me up on my mistake, asserting that you can’t power, in all its guises. We have different types of
‘create energy’ – the amount of available energy super-powers trying to understand what went
on Earth remains roughly constant, though trans- wrong. But, in many ways, we know the answer. We
mutable, and therefore our options are to find know that oil is a minefield commodity; its power
ways of getting the most out of existing reserves is awesome yet it is intensely vulnerable. The
or to develop new means to harness energy as it question now is how to maintain an energy in-
presents itself in nature, such as from wind, wave dustry that takes a more careful and considered
or solar power. approach, and ensure that those responsible for
This led me to contemplate how very complicated contributing to this revolution are appropriately
the energy sector is, politically, technologically rewarded for their efforts.
and environmentally. There is no other industrial The very palpable events in the US represent the
sector comparable in terms of the sheer magnitude shakeup that business has had globally. We are all
of value, both economically and to our survival. poised to take a more cautious approach to our
Chief-level executives at the helm of the big power work; but ‘cautious’ does not necessarily mean
companies are tasked with the impossible chal- ‘ambitious’ must take a back seat. On the contrary,
lenge of balancing the huge, immediate demand ambitions are being realised by more ingenious
for energy with the necessity of maintaining a means. Now is a time for looking at how to take
long-term vision: are we protecting the planet? what we already have, and make sure we get the
Are we adequately prepared to sustain ourselves absolute maximum out of it. This not only draws a
when fossil fuel reserves are used up? Should we parallel to the global energy situation, but also
now abandon our use of fossil fuels altogether? recognises that consumption and frivolous invest-
We are still searching for answers, but what we do ment are evidently wasteful pursuits best swapped
know is that the situation is being for innovation within a framework of cor-
fiercely debated, and all the porate, environmental and socio-
while research, develop- economic responsibility.
Gabrielle Brown
Trade & Investment is a business magazine published by Smart Publications, s.r.o., Radnicni 231/4, 787 01 Sumperk, Czech Republic, registered with the
commercial register in Ostrava, Czech Republic, registration number C 44339, business number 28606795.
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/ Editorial
Re-energising Business ............................................................................... 3
Energy ........................................................................................................... 6
Automotive ................................................................................................... 8
Construction ................................................................................................ 10
Electronics ................................................................................................... 12
Banking & Finance ...................................................................................... 14
Aerospace & Defence
/ Story
/ Companies
/ Technology news
Amazing ‘pulse of darkness’ ray tech birthed in US gov labs ....................................................72
Brown chemists report promising advance in fuel-cell technology ..........................................72
Arrayit Corporation technology may provide vital clues to detoxification of the oceans ..............73
/ Interview
Sandra Bojić:
“For me the two things in life that I cannot live without are my music
and my wonderful six year old son.”
20
A380 aircraft, taking the total craft has a list price of US$ 11.5
firm order for the iconic flagship billion (AED 42.2).
p.
BP’s Ever-Growing Oil Spill
Obama’s announcement surprised some
of his environmental supporters
On April 20, less than a month Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic
after President Barack Obama Ocean, the U.S. was hit with what
announced a sweeping new fede- has become the biggest oil spill in
ral program to promote offshore its history.
oil and gas development in the
RWE GROUP
High Energy
Sandra Bojić p. 28
74
“For me the two things in life that I cannot live with-
out are my music and my wonderful six year old son,”
says Ms Sandra Bojić, the Sales metal components for the con-
and Marketing Director of M- struction industry. This 15 year
Profil. Her role is a demanding
one in a thriving company that
old company is based in Croatia
and is growing continually, with
p.
specialises in the production of plans to expand...
nomitor solar panel reduces voltage 50% from water, this argument is taken
away.
Piech connection
VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech, who is a
close friend of Giugiaro, was at Italdesign’s
headquarters in Moncalieri, 15km south
of Turin, for the announcement. He did
not attend a press conference but was
present when Winterkorn and Giugiaro
spoke to Italdesign’s staff.
Piech spent the summer of 1972 working
at the Italdesign to learn about design
and engineering from Giugiaro.
Italdesign was co-founded by Giugiaro in
1968 and currently has 975 employees
and 800 computer aided design
workstations. VW said it will acquire its
Italdesign shares through Audi’s Italian
subsidiary Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. A
VW spokesman said this was being done
to keep the company’s Italian operations
bundled together.
Works will start in 2011 and should be Skanska has been commissioned to build
VINCI wins contract completed in 2016. an office in Oslo. The contract amount is
to upgrade London’s • The second phase involves installing
NOK 1.3 billion, approximately SEK 1.6
billion, which will be included in order
Victoria Tube station new lifts and escalators in the existing
ticket hall, which will be doubled in
bookings for the second quarter of
2010.
Transport for London (TfL) has awarded size. Delivery of this phase is scheduled
The customer is the Norwegian company
the contract to upgrade Victoria Tube for 2018.
IT Fornebu, which is developing the former
station to VINCI BAM Nuttall Ltd, the airport area, Fornebu, in western Oslo.
This further success follows on from the
consortium comprising Taylor Woodrow The new building will be the office of the
contract won by VINCI BAM Nuttall in
(VINCI Construction UK) and BAM Nuttall Norwegian energy company Statoil.
December 2009 to upgrade London’s
Ltd.
Tottenham Court Road Tube station. The contract pertains to an office building
The project calls for modernising and with five connected nine floor buildings.
improving access to one of London The project comprises a total of 66,800
Underground’s busiest and most
congested stations, with 80 million
Skanska to build square meters. “Naturally, we are pleased
to be entrusted with this major and key
passengers a year. Statoil’s new office project. It will contribute strongly to our
The station will be upgraded in two order bookings and I am convinced that
phases. in Oslo the owner and tenants will benefit from
the modern and functional premises,” says
• The first phase includes building a (assignment for IT Fornebu totals NOK 1.3 Petter Eiken, President of Skanska Norway.
new entrance and a new ticket hall. billion, approximately SEK 1.6 billion) Skanska will participate in the design
the shares in the company. Further details Aware Design,“ have begun a three-year
Fujitsu, Toshiba to of the planned merger were not ENIAC (European Nanoelectronics Initiative
merge mobile-phone released. Advisory Council) project to pursue energy
efficiency through a holistic approach
The move comes as competition in the
businesses mobile-phone market, particularly in
that unifies, under a common design
platform, the development of modeling,
smart phones, is intensifying. On
Fujitsu Ltd and Toshipa Corp announced simulation, design, and EDA techniques
Wednesday, top handset maker Nokia
in the middle of June 2010 plans to merge for a wide range of devices and systems.
warned that it could miss its Q2 handset
The partners made specific note of digital
their mobile-phone businesses, aiming division sales target on lower than
blocks, analog/RF blocks, and discrete
to become the number one provider of expected ASPs (average selling prices)
components. The project will also address
mobile phones in Japan. and mobile-device volumes. Nokia also
the conception and experimentation of
said it expects its mobile-device value
According to the agreement, Toshiba will new power supply systems, with particular
market share to be slightly lower in 2010,
transfer its mobile-phone business to a emphasis on energy management
compared to 2009.
new company to be established October aspects.
Nokia, which had about 35% of the
1. Fujitsu will then acquire a majority of „The ultimate objective of the END project
worldwide handset market in Q1, has faced
increased competition in smart phones as is to bring innovative energy-aware design
Apple‘s iPhone continues to fly off shelves, solutions and EDA technologies into the
RIM‘s Blackberry remains a popular product development of the industrial
business-side choice, and devices partners of the Consortium,“ said Salvatore
based on open-source Android Rinaudo, END project coordinator and
platform gain momentum. industrial and multisegment sector CAD
R&D director at STMicroelectronics, in a
Fujitsu and Toshiba made note statement today. „We will enable the
of smar t phones in their design and manufacture of electronic
announcement and said they circuits that will be at the basis of the
plan to develop new handsets green information society of the future.“
for markets in and outside
Japan. END‘s project goals include the
development of power models for non-
Fujitsu manufactures mobile bulk CMOS devices, a unified low-power
phones for sale through its design methodology for heterogeneous
partner NT T Docomo Inc. systems and SOC devices, energy-efficient
Meanwhile, Toshiba in Japan building blocks for heterogeneous
provides its handsets through systems, energy-efficient IP components
sales partners KDDI Corp, NTT for SOCs, energy management of systems
Docomo, and Softbank Mobile based on multiple, heterogeneous
Corp. supplies, and demonstrators of solar
The two companies plan to sign a final energy and wireless sensor systems.
contract at the end of July. The project will cost approximately $15.5
million (12.6 million Euros), with funding
provided by both the ENIAC joint
European research undertaking and from the public
authorities of Belgium, Greece, Italy, and
program targets Slovakia. The ENIAC joint undertaking is
a public-private partnership with the
energy-aware European Commission, member states,
associated states and European R&D
electronics design actors, and levers private and national
Several major semiconductor industry investments.
companies including ON Semiconductor,
Numonyx, NXP, and STMicroelectronics
have teamed with European design Handset competition
centers, universities, and institutes to
establish standards and contribute to pushes Nokia Q2
building a solid energy-aware electronics
design base for Europe. estimate down
The partners in the new publicly funded Nokia lowered its Q2 estimates at the end
research program, dubbed„END - Models, of June, pointing to the recent depreciation
Solutions, Methods and Tools for Energy- of the Euro and the competitive handset
Nokia also provided an update on its full- Traditionally, open-source software Supporting a typical open-source open-
year 2010 outlook. The company continues developers have focused on the enterprise door-like policy, Linaro said it is a growing
to expect industry mobile-device volumes and computing markets. Alternatively, organization with additional partners
to be up approximately 10% in 2010 and Linaro noted use of its releases for Web- expected to join and invited interested
continues to target its mobile-device centric consumer devices, such as smart companies to discuss membership with
volume market share to be flat in 2010, phones, tablets, and digital televisions, as its executives.
both as compared to 2009. However, Nokia
now expects its mobile-device value
market share to be slightly lower in 2010,
compared to 2009. That compares to
Nokia‘s previous target to increase its
mobile-device value market share slightly
in 2010, compared to 2009.
Nokia is slated to provide its Q2 results
and more details on its 2010 full-year
outlook on July 22. C ompetitive price
Q ualified products
N ice services
ARM, Freescale, IBM, R apid delivery
Samsung,
ST-Ericsson, TI form Share Electronics Co., Ltd is a professional
manufacturer of electronic Transformers,
Linux company inductors , coils, chokes and power solutions.
executive of Allianz, said in an interview sellers of the product for the first
Allianz chief wants with InvestmentNews. “Indexed life is small quarter.
bigger piece of enough where we can be focused, and
when we look at the underlying expertise
“It’s a smart move for Allianz Life,” said
Sheryl Moore president and chief executive
indexed-life market required to market it, it’s consistent with
of AnnuitySpecs.com. “All annuities are
our distribution force.”
Gary C. Bhojwani says the annuity player capital intensive, and they’re not very
believes that agents selling the firm’s The carrier manufactures the top-selling profitable. But life insurance products can
popular indexed annuities have the skills indexed annuity, the MasterDex X, make it a better profit. Coming out of a
to also sell indexed life insurance according to researcher AnnuitySpecs. capital anorexic environment, this is how
you offset profitability.”
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North Mr. Bhojwani said that many of the
America, already a major player in the insurance agents who currently sell Allianz will continue developing its annuity
indexed-annuity arena, is looking to grab indexed annuities have the know-how to line as well, Mr. Bhojwani said. Recent
a bigger share of the indexed-life-insurance sell indexed life insurance effectively. meetings with broker-dealer and
market. wirehouse executives, he said, revealed
To increase its presence in the indexed-life that many firms’ top priority is to grow
“We’re currently looking specifically at space, Allianz will have to compete against annuity sales in 2010 and 2011 as advisers’
indexed life,” president and chief executive the likes of Aviva USA and Pacific Life center more on income planning.
Gary C. Bhojwani, president and chief Insurance Co., the first and second top
The insurer in either late summer or early
fall expects to release a annuity product
that will address inflation. Allianz also has
plans drawn up for a registered indexed
annuity but won’t take it to market anytime
soon.
Mr. Bhojwani also noted that the company
has taken a “serious” look at a hybrid
annuity product with long-term-care
features, but Allianz is “not at a point where
we can do something about it.”
A just-released study from Allianz,
“Reclaiming the Future,” revealed that
people continue to be nervous about the
prospect of retiring, as 92% of the 3,257
adults polled said they believe there is a
“retirement crisis.” Fully 35% of the polled
adults feel “totally unprepared” for
retirement, but an even greater
concentration – 54% – of those in their
late 40s feel that way.
Making those individuals aware of
annuities and their benefits begins at the
adviser level, Mr. Bhojwani said.
“There’s a significant effort to educate on
the reality of annuities and retirement,”
Mr. Bhojwani said. “We’re in the business
of selling annuities, but we don’t want the
importance of education to get lost in
pushing products.”
Bruce Jenkyn-Jones, managing director “We like Transocean,” Mr. Hodges said.
Hooked on Peru at Impax Asset Management Group PLC “They have gotten hit harder than BP, but
and co-manager of Pax World Management BP is responsible, and they are the ones
Peru, which produces 10% of the world’s LLC’s Global Green Fund (PGRNX), also who are going to be paying for this.”
fish catch, is more attractive in the wake likes companies involved with the cleanup
of the BP debacle, he said. Cumberland of the spill. Transocean was a top holding for The
just added BlackRock Inc.’s iShares MSCI Hodges Fund as of May 31.
“I think the water treatment and pollution
All Peru Capped Index ETF (EPU) to its
control sector is compelling, specifically
portfolios. companies that are treating and recycling
“I would have added Peru anyway, but the oil,” he said. Keeping the faith
this incident gives it a kicker,” Mr. Kotok Mr. Jenkyn-Jones likes Clean Harbors Inc. Although most investors are steering clear
said. (CLH), which handles hazardous waste, of BP, MMA Praxis Mutual Funds group is
A more obvious bet for managers is natural and Nalco Holding Co. (NLC), which maintaining its investment.
gas, which many believe will get a boost conducts water treatment. He also likes
companies involved with environmental The faith-based fund group, which is part
as the price of energy rises in light of of Mennonite Mutual Aid Inc., prides itself
testing, such as Thermo Fisher Scientific
upcoming regulation. President Barack on being a socially conscious investment
Inc. (TMO), and water pumping, such as
Obama’s moratorium on deep-water firm and doesn’t think that investing in
Idex Corp. (IEX) and Pentair Inc. (PNR).
drilling also is expected to increase the BP goes against its philosophy, said Mark
price of oil. “In the short term, we are looking for Regier, director of stewardship investing
companies that could benefit in the next at MMA.
Tom Lydon, a registered investment quarter,” Mr. Jenkyn-Jones said.
adviser and president of Global Trends As of April 30, the MMA Praxis International
Investments, is holding on to two In the longer term, however, he thinks
Fund (MPIAX) had a 1.9% weighting in
exchange-traded funds that invest in that environmental consultants are a good
shares of BP.
natural gas: United States Natural Gas investment.
Fund (UNG) and First Trust Portfolios LP’s “One can speculate that regulation will “There are some financial reasons for not
First Trust ISE Revere Natural Gas ETF tighten around offshore drilling in general selling,” Mr. Regier said.
(FCG). and create opportunities for the Shares of BP plummeted to a 15- month
environment age,” Mr. Jenkyn-Jones low last week. The stock closed at TK Friday,
Although the renewable-energy sector
said. down TK% since April 20.
has shown weakness, managers anticipate
that this market will take off as the Obama Some hedge fund managers are discussing
MMA also wants to give BP some time to
administration opens up the market for which company stocks to short in the
see how it handles the oil spill, Mr. Regier
renewable energy in the United States. wake of the oil spill.
said.
The Standard & Poor’s Global Clean Energy For example, one hedge fund manager,
“I think we will be concerned in four to
Index was down 35.8% year-to-date as of who asked not to be identified, mentioned
the possibility of shorting stocks of local six months if we don’t know what
last Wednesday, and solar-company stocks
banks in the gulf region because they do happened,” he said.
in particular have taken a beating. But in
the long term, Sam Jones, president of All a lot of commercial loans, and clearly, “When it comes to a crisis like this, there
Season Financial Advisors, which has $100 many businesses will be hurt, he said. is a tendency to react to the implications,
million in assets under management, The BP spill and the moratorium on deep- but we want to know what the problem
thinks that stocks of such companies as water drilling will benefit onshore and was, what the solution will be — and see
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) and SunPower Corp. shallow-water drilling, said Craig Hodges, what their response is to fixing every-
(SPWR) are good bets. president of Hodges Capital Management thing.”
Emirates, the Dubai-based international Executive, Emirates Airline and Group and
Emirates orders 32 airline, placed an order with Airbus for an Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO,
additional 32 A380 aircraft, taking the which was witnessed by German
Airbus A380 Super total firm order for the iconic flagship of Chancellor Angela Merkel and other
the 21st century to 90 super-jumbos. dignitaries.
Jumbos valued at “This latest order, adding to 58 A380s
The order for the additional aircraft has a
previously ordered, affirms Emirates’
US$ 11.5B; adds to list price of US$ 11.5 billion (AED 42.2).
strategy to become a world leading carrier
The agreement was signed today during and to further establish Dubai as a central
58 previously ordered a ceremony at the Berlin Air Show by His gateway to worldwide air travel. The A380
Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed is our flagship in terms of passenger
A380 aircraft Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief comfort, innovation, operating and
Oil Spill the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. was hit with
what has become the biggest oil spill in its history.
On that Tuesday night, 52 miles offshore pressure of oil and gas pushing up from He stressed the importance of balancing
of Louisiana in nearly 5,000 feet of water, the reservoir. The high-pressured oil and “the need to harness domestic energy
BP’s Deepwater Horizon exploratory gas then blasted to the ocean surface, resources and the need to protect
drilling rig was closing down its operations. ignited, set the rig ablaze, and killed 11 America’s natural resources,” adding that
After months of drilling, it had reached a workers. he and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar “will
reservoir 15,000 feet beneath the seafloor, Resting on the ocean floor, a key last-ditch employ new technologies that reduce the
found oil and gas, and was in the process safety device—the four-story-high impact of oil exploration. We’ll protect
of capping the borehole with cement, blowout preventer—should have kicked areas that are vital to tourism, the
sealing it for later commercial production, in, pinching and closing the well. But when environment, and our national security.
when a massive blast rocked the rig. it failed to crush and block the borehole, And we’ll be guided not by political
BP, President Obama, and the nation could ideology, but by scientific evidence.”
The exact cause of the blowout, fire, and
explosion will be determined in the only stand by and watch the disaster Obama’s announcement surprised some
months ahead, but government and unfold. of his environmental supporters, as well
industry experts speculate that a cap of Just weeks earlier, on March 31, Obama as elected officials from several coastal
cement and drilling mud—used to seal had laid out his plan to expand offshore states, but the President appeared
the exploratory well—gave way to the oil and gas exploration and development. comfortable in the knowledge that the
dispersed oil. In the Corexit toxicity First, the Gulf spill is exposing a relatively community had learned from spills on the
experiments, oil alone had an LC50 of unstudied ecosystem—the deep ocean— continental shelf and applied it to the
10.72 ppm. When spill response teams to oil. Although biologists have studied deep.
approve dispersant use, they assume that organisms that live in the Gulf’s wetlands
“That was inappropriate,” McKinney says.
the vast water column will dilute the and those that spawn in the water column,
“There are huge differences, and we did
dispersed oil and mitigate its increased they have almost no data on the organisms
not invest in an adequate risk assessment
toxicity. that live at depths around the leaking
to make sure that we were balancing the
wellhead. Also, aquatic toxicologist
Many of the region’s important organisms, benefits from the production against the
Mitchelmore says, it’s unclear how many
such as blue fin tuna and shrimp, use the potential environmental harm. And we’re
species living near the ocean’s surface
wetlands at some point in their lifetime. learning that harm the hard way now.”
dive down to these depths to feed.
Out in the Gulf’s waters, adults breed
Obama underscored this lack of pre-
during the late spring and early summer. “Ultimately, we don’t know what’s even
paration for the worst and reliance on the
Their eggs then float to shore and the down there to ascertain risks,” Mitchelmore
past to predict the future at his late-May
larvae grow in the wetlands, protected says. “It is just one huge black box.”
briefing. “The fact that oil companies now
from predators.
Even the toxicity data scientists have for have to go a mile underwater and then
In a June 4 report of a meeting sponsored species that live near the ocean’s surface drill another 3 miles below that in order
by the UNH research center, oil-spill have question marks. to hit oil tells us something about the
experts recommended continued use of direction of the oil industry,” he said.
dispersants, but suggested that response When organisms absorb or even eat small “Extraction is more expensive, and it is
teams should establish ecological amounts of oil over a period of time, their going to be inherently more risky.”
assessment teams to reevaluate the trade- cells divert energy from growth and
reproduction to defending themselves The President then announced a series of
off decision on the basis of data of
from the toxic oil. As a result, later in these potentially sweeping reforms within the
dispersed oil-plume locations and
organism’s life cycles, they develop growth Minerals Management Service, the part
concentrations.
defects that limit their viability. Also of the Department of Interior that oversees
But holes in the scientific literature hinder because oil’s toxic aromatic compounds offshore oil and gas drilling and production
proper evaluation of the environmental act like narcotics or anesthetics, nonlethal in federal waters. Only hours before the
trade-offs between wetlands and water doses can slow fish and disrupt their ability briefing, Salazar had forced MMS head S.
column when massive amounts of to respond to predators or to catch prey. Elizabeth Birnbaum to resign.
dispersants enter the picture, other experts “It’s a more subtle way of killing something,” Among reforms announced by the
say. Some scientists believe that they can’t Mitchelmore says of chronic toxicity. President and Salazar were new, tougher
properly estimate the harm that this spill’s
The end results of chronic toxicity in the operating standards for offshore energy
load of dispersed oil will cause the water
Gulf will probably take years to decades companies and a six-month moratorium
column, because they lack sufficient and
for scientists to fully appreciate, Mitchelmore on new deepwater drilling.The requirements
fundamental data on how dispersants
says. But early signs may appear in the were based on recommendations of a
affect oil’s fate, what creatures live in
yields from next year’s fisheries, she federal agency report, the so-called 30-day
deepwater ecosystems, how laboratory
adds. report, ordered by President Obama and
toxicity tests translate to actual conditions
completed on May 27.
in the ocean, and how oil affects organisms All of these now-glaring scientific
over the long term. unknowns have led experts to call for The moratorium stops exploratory drilling
more oil-spill research to better prepare in water deeper than 500 feet, half the
One source of confusion stems from the
us for the next megaspill. depth normally considered to be
methods used to measure oil
“deepwater.” Consequently, 33 permitted
biodegredation. Studies often monitor “This is one big ongoing experiment,” exploratory wells currently being drilled
drops in oxygen levels as a proxy for Mitchelmore says. “We’re going to be in the deepwater in the Gulf of Mexico
microbial activity, because microbes learning a lot from this spill, and that’s must halt drilling at the first safe stopping
consume oxygen while they digest oil. wrong. We need basic information ahead point, Salazar explained.
Researchers question whether the lower of time.”
oxygen levels could also signal that the But operating production facilities will be
microbes are digesting the dispersants’ More research will become increasingly allowed to keep pumping, Salazar said.
surfactant molecules instead of oil important as oil exploration continues into That means that some 3,500 production
compounds. “If you look at structures of unstudied ecosystems, such as ultra-deep rigs and facilities operating in federal Gulf
the surfactant molecules that are known, water and the Arctic, Kinner and McKinney waters and 46 deepwater production rigs
there are a lot of very edible pieces on say. Understanding how oil behaves and will keep working. Each rig can support
there from a microbial perspective,” what organisms could be affected in these multiple wells, so the actual number of
Valentine says. new areas will be crucial. operating wells is about 30,000, according
to MMS budget documents.
As contradictory biodegradation results Stakeholders from industry to regulators
hinder the ability of scientists to model did not collect enough of this data before MMS figures show that the deepwater
dispersed oil’s fate, missing pieces in moving from continental-shelf drilling to wells are highly productive. Indeed, the
toxicity data make it difficult to predict deepwater drilling, McKinney says. Instead, recent 30-day report says wells drilled at
the spill’s environmental impact. they relied too much on what the those greater and technologically complex
It may be one of Europe’s more compact develop and maintain the system’s Mr Goethals explains that his role is
countries, but sharing its borders with infrastructure; second, to ensure there is primarily focused on achieving that crucial
France, the Netherlands, Germany and a balance between electricity generation balance between supply and demand:
Luxembourg, Belgium is the very heart and consumption; and third to act as the “My responsibility is to the transmission
of North-West Europe. Therefore, when market facilitator – i.e. to take measures department and overseeing the real-time
it comes to developments in Europe to to improve the functioning of the operation of the grid via the regional and
connect and correlate electricity systems electricity market. national control centres. This involves
across the region, Belgian transmissi- managing our system services, but my
Since 19 May 2010, Elia has also owned a overall objective is to ensure the grid is
on system operator Elia is leading the
60% stake in one of the four German balanced.”
way. Chief Transmission Officer Mr Roel
transmission system operators, 50Hertz
Goethals talks to Gabrielle Brown about
Transmission. This acquisition is in line
Elia’s pioneering efforts to unite and
with Elia’s strategy of contributing to the
reinforce the grids of Europe.
creation of a regional electricity market
New market
Elia is responsible for the transmission of in Central Western Europe (Benelux, France
and Germany). It also represents a major
mechanisms
Belgium’s electricity and owns all the
country’s 150–380kV grid and almost all step to ensure the security of supply to a As is the situation for transmission system
of its 30–70kV grid infrastructure. Its prime diverse customer base with a broad and operators ( TSOs) across Europe,
responsibilities are threefold: first, to green ‘energy mix’. responsibilities towards the market side
Enjoy the professional work conducted by experts with modern equipment and
years of expertise. This gives you the best that’s currently available on the market.
Proof? Our market leadership.
www.verbraekenconstructionnv.eu
The biomass CHP plant in Kehl is a cogeneration plant fuelled with biomass (scrap wood). Considering that wood burning is carbon neutral,
the power plant works environmentally sound. The plant has an output of 8.6 MW (electrical) and 48 MW (thermal). The combined heat and
power plant supplies a paper mill with steam and feeds electricity into the public grid in line with the German Renewable Energies Act.
Dr.-Ing. Jürgen
Gr ossmann
RWE AG is already a major force in the of the past year.” He goes on to say, “RWE
energy industry, but its acquisition of and Essent are ideal partners. Essent makes
Essent NV in September 2009 is likely our portfolio more international and more
to take its position in the market to an robust: in terms of electricity generation,
even higher level. Diane Mannion discus- retail, renewables and energy trading.”
ses the impact of this merger and the
future for RWE.
Challenge of power
from renewable sources
The environmental benefit of sourcing
power from renewable sources is
undeniable. However, there is a cost to
that and one of the costs is that most of
Germany’s renewable-sourced power
(mainly from wind) is not where most of
the power is consumed.
Previously, power plants were built where
the power was most needed – where
populations and industries were of highest
concentration. However, they cannot
command the wind to blow when and
where we want it to! Most of Germany’s
wind power generation is in the north of
Germany - mostly from off-shore wind
turbines and the number of on-shore ones
is increasing all the time. The strategic
problems with this are two-fold: New lines
need to be built, taking the power from
the north, down to central and southern
Germany and the inability to store wind
Challenge of Challenge of new
power. Previously, power could be saved uninterrupted power investments and
with a two-dam system. When power
production exceeded supply, it could be Germany has the lowest interruption time technologies
used to pump water from the lower to of power in Europe. Amprion serves
Mainly because of the need to transport
the higher dam. Then, when more power 27 million people and links Luxembourg,
power further (as per 1. above) Amprion’s
was needed, it could be generated by the Netherlands, France, Switzerland and
ten-year plan is to expand their supply
releasing water from the higher to the Austria with Germany. It has had no
network by 800 kilometres of new lines.
lower dam. This cannot be done with wind interruption to its power supply. It
This will cost three billion euros. They are
power and so the balancing of power manages this by always having two lines
also developing several new technologies
production and usage is more difficult to to feed power to all of its customers. This
and three of them are:
attain – for example, less power is needed benefits its customers but it obviously
at night but the wind doesn’t stop blowing increases the cost of delivering that A high temperature line. The higher the
just because the sun has gone down! power. voltage through a line, the hotter it gets
Challenge of
environmental
protection
Given that Amprion has 11,000 kilometres
of electricity grid and is the third largest
grid operator in Europe, supplying electricity
to a massive 73.1 square kilometres, its
environmental impact is a high priority
management focus. The protection of the
environment and preservation of the natural
foundations for life are key precepts for
action at Amprion GmbH.
Two of its several environmental initiatives
are:
1. Bio-top management. For a power grid
to cross a forest, the trees below the
line need to be felled. Once the line is
installed, Amprion then manages the
ground below to sustain as much of the
natural flora and fauna as is possible.
With 10,500 hectares of bio-top to
administer, this is a huge project.
2. Bird protection. Amprion has tar-
geted particular bird species and,
GRADSKA PLINARA ZAGREB
Past, Present and Future
organized for cooking courses to be held management was separated from the plant for Zagreb public transport is currently
(a hands-on means to demonstrate the energy trading operations in April 2008 under construction and there are 60 buses
benefits of cooking with gas) and for by the founding of a new company: and some 300 lightweight delivery vehicles
newsletters on the subject to be distributed Gradska plinara Zagreb – Opskrba d.o.o. and cars using this type of fuel at present.
to households across the city . ( Zagreb City Gas – Supply Ltd.).
In 2009 Gradska plinara Zagreb – Opskrba
In 1955, Zagreb was supplied with natural supplied gas to 252,000 buyers in the City
gas from Croatian gas fields. Plants for the of Zagreb and to parts of Zagreb County.
production of city gas from natural gas Gradska plinara Some 450 million m³ of natural gas was
were put into operation in 1958. Then, in supplied, 65% to households and 35% to
1978, imported natural gas was introduced Zagreb – Opskrba – industrial customers. The company
to Zagreb via the gas trunk line. This is portfolio also includes a laboratory for
when the process of replacing the city overview repairing, gauging and testing gas-meters
gas with natural gas began. As consumers and other measuring equipment. Total
Put simply, Gradska plinara Zagreb –
were switching to natural gas, old pipelines revenue for 2009 amounted to HRK 923
Opskrba is responsible for natural gas
were replaced. In 1993, the last plant for million, and the profit after tax was some
procurement and supply to the end user.
the production of city gas was closed and HRK 11 million.
Founded by Zagrebački Holding, a company
since then only natural gas has been
100% owned by the City of Zagreb, the
distributed.
company has equity amounting to HRK 40
million and a staff of 147 employees, Gradska plinara
transposed from the distribution system
Operations today operator Gradska plinara Zagreb. Zagreb – overview
Based on the relevant legislative Gradska plinara Zagreb – Opskrba is the Gradska plinara Zagreb is the distribution
regulations and in accordance with the sole supplier of compressed natural gas in system operator for the area of the City of
EU Directive (55/2003), the network the Republic of Croatia. A vehicle filling Zagreb and part of Zagreb County. With
CATHODIC PROTECTION
LEADERS IN REGION
Fast-growing, innovative businesses metalworking, and the Diederichs’ family shape. “My ancestors initially made small
tend to steal the limelight over steady, established their forging business in 1550. items, such as horseshoes, but then in
traditional setups. But speaking to Still located in the Bergisches Land, a 1919 my grandfather moved the
Gabrielle Brown, Dr Manfred Diederichs, region in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, workshops up to the top of the mountain
Managing Director of the open-die where Dirostahl – Karl Diederichs KG because instead of needing to be near
forging company Dirostahl – Karl Diede- thrives today, with a staff of 480. Its the water, it became more important to
richs KG, explains how his 400-year-old unhindered success is largely down to be near the train station.” By this time,
business thrives by offering clients years employing the values of loyalty and steam power and later on hydraulic presses
of experienced craftsmanship and time- stability across all aspects of its had replaced the water wheel driven
honoured customer service. operations. hammer, and the Diederichs were able to
broaden the range and size of their
The Diederichs’ forging business was
There’s something deeply heartening products.
initially powered by water, with a water
about Dr Diederichs’ traditional approach wheel driving the hammer used to shape Dr Diederichs is enthusiastic and proud
to business. Forging is the oldest form of and compresses the metal into its desired of the craft to which his family has
“Good old-fashioned
customer service”
There’s no sign at Dirostahl that having
its roots planted firmly in the past in any
way holds the company back. In fact, its
commitment to traditional business
practices, and an all-too-rare awareness
of the value of continuity, is what maintains
clients’ loyalty. “I have members of staff
who have been here for years and years
– more than 25 years. Our clients know
that they can speak to the same person
again and again over the years. Having
this familiarity is important, because many
of our clients work in the same way and
have family owned businesses them-
selves.”
Dr Diederichs adds that his sales staff
makes a point of always meeting clients
face to face and that he himself has an
open-door policy, whereby if a client
wants to speak to him, they will be put
through directly. “When people call me,
they speak to me, not to my secretary.
I am always accessible.” The concept of
M-Profil, a thriving Croatia-based Like many South Eastern European count- gone from strength to strength since.
company specialising in the production ries the last decade saw a period of boom “The business has experienced fairly
of metal building components, has ex- for the Croatian construction industry, extensive growth over the last fifteen
perienced fifteen years of uninterrupted with significant development in the cities years, and our products and services have
growth. Sales and Marketing Director and as more and more holiday makers evolved also. Initially we sold and
Ms Sandra Bojić talks to Gabrielle Brown were drawn to the country. Zabok-based assembled roofs; now our expertise is in
about M-Profil’s commitment to quality M-Profil, a manufacturer of prefabricated providing a range of products including
and innovation, and its plans to branch metal construction components used in steel constructions, metal sheets and
out into the Western European market. the building of shopping centres, ware- insulated sandwich panels, and we offer
houses, sports premises, residential and a tailor-made service so our products can
administrative developments, to name be installed directly on the building site”
but a few, was founded in 1995 and has explains Ms Bojić.
A flexible and
comprehensive service
M-Profil offers its clients a ‘turn-key
solution’, meaning the quality service is
as important as the product. I asked Ms
Bojić to describe how this concept
originated: “As the demand for steel
products expanded we soon realised that
we would have to expand our operations.
We invested in neighbouring countries
where labour costs were lower, and we
acquired companies that had production
facilities that would complement our
range. So today we can offer a complete
solution to customers.” Under M-Profil’s
umbrella are six companies that together
offer customers a comprehensive range
of products and services, covering
fieldwork, concrete, asphalt, the erection
of steel structures and installing sandwich
panels for walls and roofs. Clients with
existing projects can have their building
constructed to specified requirements or
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By Gabrielle Brown In 2009 ESL had a fleet of 16 vessels operate in the energy, steel and
and has just recently invested in a new chemical industries.
Finnish company ESL Shipping operates
a versatile fleet across often ice-stricken ship, bigger than any in the existing
ESL Shipping was founded as a result
seas. CEO Markus Karjalainen describes fleet and due to be launched in early
of its parent company Aspo, a con-
how his company maintains its expertise 2012, so business is clearly look set glomerate of specialised business-to-
in such a challenging environment and to remain strong for ESL. “We own a bu si ness brands, identifying the
discusses notable developments in his large, interchangeable fleet, allowing financial benefits of buying its own
and his clients’ market conditions. us to provide a flexible and reliable ship to transport the coal and coke it
service,” says Mr Karjalainen, though was impor ting to ser ve domestic
ESL Shipping transpor ts dr y raw adding that, “the size of harbours and
materials in the Baltic Sea region, an energy needs in Finland. The MS
depth of shipping channels in the Arkadia was bought in 1949 and from
extremely testing environment
Baltic Sea sets hard limits on vessel there grew a fleet of ships all equipped
demanding ships equipped to cope
with sub-zero temperatures. These sizes.” The Baltic region, however, to deal with the unforgiving conditions
ice-strengthened vessels enable goods offers a growing market for ESL, with of the Baltic. In fact the Finnish mer-
to be transported year round and ESL’s opportunities for transporting huge chant navy now comprises 15% ESL
shallow-drafted fleet are capable of quantities of raw materials from Russia Shipping vessels, which are all manned
travelling in the region’s notoriously as well as consumer and industrial by Finnish crews and sail under the
shallow ports. goods. ESL’s current clients largely Finnish flag.
issues surrounding the future of coal at the Meri-Pori coal plant. Should this keeping costs down for the client and
as an energy source. There are some research show favourable results then ensuring ESL operates at maximum
interesting outcomes to the debate: the demand for coal could in fact efficiency. Part of ESL’s commitment
should the demand for coal diminish increase in the long term. to clients is to follow the ‘just on time’
then ESL is equipped to transport principal; in the case of steel industry
other energy supplies, such as biomass clients, who rely on small, frequent
fuel commodities. However, with
increasing research into how coal can
Supporting steel shipments, ESL ensures it has a regular,
reliable transport schedule.
be more efficiently used, this reduction production Even during the recession ESL Shipping
in demand could well be only in the
short term. “The industry now does ESL Shipping serves numerous steel saw a constant demand from steel
not so much question the role of coal industry clients in the Nordic region industry clients, and this looks set to
as a source of energy, but rather for whom they transport not only iron continue for the foreseeable future.
focuses on solutions for limiting its ore and pellets but also coking gas “Our customers in the steel industry
adverse impacts,” says Mr Karjalainen. and limestone used in the steel are successful in their own niche
Such solutions include recovering manufacturing process. With a tight businesses and produce products with
carbon dioxide emissions, research network of clients in the industry ESL a high degree of added value,” says
into which will begin in 2015 in Finland sails long-haul under full cargo, Mr Karjalainen.
Preferred supplier
of sustainable
ship designs for
the Baltic Sea.
Specialised success
In 2009 ESL Shipping’s net sales totalled EUR 63.8
million with an operating profit of EUR 14.7 million.
Considering the decline in transported cargo and
overall business environment this was a sound result.
The Baltic Sea is, however, a comparatively stable
market, and by having established such a strong
capability to manoeuvre across the waters whatever
the conditions, together with strong client relations
throughout the Nordic region, ESL Shipping is in an
enviably strong position. “We are well versed in the
features and practices of the harbours we sail to. The
Baltic Sea will remain ESL Shipping’s home market,” Making every port your home port
says Mr Karjalainen.
Even when you are far away from home,
you can rely on us to manage your port
call quickly and efficiently.
www.wilhelmsen.com/shipsservice
With a turnover of 416.9 million euros Currently Wiener Linien transports 803.6 transport vehicles can be reached by
gross in 2008, and an increase of 1.34% million passengers, which represents 35% disabled people, and the public transport
in passengers to a record 803.6 million, of all journeys made in the city of Vienna system in general covers 96% of Vienna.
Wiener Linien is truly a model railway. compared to 32% made by car. This means
that public transport is more widely used
Diane Mannion speaks to the Chief
Communications Officer, Mr Answer
in Vienna than in any other major city in
Europe. This figure continues to grow,
Customer service
Lang, about the secrets of the company’s with an increase of 1.34% of users in Apart from the growth of the company,
success. 2008. crucially, in a recent customer service
It was back in 1865 that the first horse So why is the Vienna transport system so survey, 92% of respondents indicated that
successful and so widely used by members they were happy with the service provided.
drawn tram passed through the streets
of the public? The Chief Communications With regard to customer satisfaction, Mr
of Vienna, but it wasn’t until 1899 that the
Officer of Wiener Linien Gmbh & Co, Mr Lang comments: “Our staff are specifically
first public transport company was
Answer Lang, attributes this to several educated in customer services, and receive
founded in the city. Wiener Linien, as we
factors. Firstly, public transport in Vienna periodical training where the main points
know it today, began in 1949, and after relating to customer services are repeated.”
is cheaper than in most other European
that date the City of Vienna attained full countries. The second reason is due to Mr Lang also believes that a great deal of
ownership. Nowadays Wiener Linien is efficiency as Vienna has a very modern the customer satisfaction relates again to
still 100% owned by the city of Vienna, underground system, which is only 30 accessibility. Their transport systems are
which contributes 30% towards running years old, and the bus and train services barrier free and are therefore easily
costs, with Wiener Linien meeting the are frequent. Thirdly, the public transport accessible to the disabled, people with
remaining 70%. system is very accessible. 97% of public pushchairs and the elderly.
Latest developments
Plans to extend the U2 line in the
underground network by over 5 kilometres
will bring the total underground network
in Vienna to almost 80 kilometres. This is
the next stage in the company’s proposals
and is already fully financed. This will
include six more stations bringing the
total to 101 stations. Next will be the
extension of line number one to the South,
with six more stations intended. The
company’s plans will take until 2019 to
execute.
With regard to other developments Mr
Lang states: “The most impressive
development of the last years is the
development of a tramway, together with Tunnel Rannersdorf Subway Vienna
Siemens, of which the entrance height is
19 centimetres; therefore it is possible to
get into the tram directly from the
sidewalk. These are called ultra low floor
(ULF) trams and are great for pushchairs,
- Subways
wheelchairs and other users.” ULF trams
- Tunnels
have been in service for eight years now,
- Bridges
and Wiener Linien will be increasing the
- Roads, Highways & , 9 , / ( 1 * , 1 ( ( 5 6
number of ULF vehicles to 300 by 2014.
- Building Construction
- Building physics A-1040 Vienna, Mommsengasse 31
Tel. +43(1) 505 56 87-0, office@step-zt.at
- Building supervision www.step-zt.at
With a history dating back to 1919, NAC business. “I ensure that our agents and to provide clients with all the benefits of
Nordic Air & Sea Cargo is an establis- clients always receive the best level of a large organization coupled with the
hed company providing clients with a service and that our conduct reflects all specialist expertise that comes from
range of tailor-made logistics services. that NAC stands for.” This is no easy feat working on a smaller, regional scale. “We
Speaking to Gabrielle Brown, Product when you consider that NAC provides its maintain a detailed local knowledge. This
Manager Mr Jan Boklund explains how air freight and shipping services to clients is a key focus for our business. Whereas
the company’s local knowledge and worldwide and has twenty offices located our competitors might operate from two
throughout Scandinavia. or three offices, we have a more diluted,
dedication to meeting clients’ specific
widespread presence, which means our
needs - no matter how challenging - sets
staff are familiar with local businesses.”
them apart from the competition.
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Albert Ziegler GmbH & Co. KG produce the most expensive vehicle, the Airport integrated lights for illumination of the
a comprehensive range of appliances Crash Tender Z8. surroundings, equipment lockers, an
and equipment for the fire service, from This vehicle is fully equipped with a electro hydraulic front winch and a rear
engines to hoses, and have been doing hydraulic telescopic boom, which has view camera. These are just a few of the
so since1891. Ziegler’s Sales Director for electrically swivelling and tilting spotlights, numerous items that are included with
Export, Mr Jörg Hitzler, talks to Diane a remote control monitor on the top of the Airport Crash Tender Z8, but it gives
Mannion about this successful family the vehicle, a piercing unit and a thermal you a brief glimpse of the sophistication
owned company. camera if required. This enables the crew of these vehicles.
to access and see into high areas and to
To purchase a fire engine from Albert fight in-cab fires on aircrafts by spraying
Ziegler GmbH & Co, you can pay anything
from under 100,000 euros up to a
water inside the cab of the aeroplane. The The company
water tank carries a plentiful supply
staggering 1 million euros. The price is amounting to 13,500 litres, and there is Albert Ziegler produces around 600
not surprising, however, when you also a 1,600 litre foam tank. Other onboard vehicles a year and these vary in size up
consider the technology that goes into equipment includes a Dynawatt generator, to a tremendous 43 tonnes, which is the
Amazing ‘pulse of
darkness’ ray tech
birthed in US gov labs repeated brief intensity dips—a drop
US government boffins say they have of about 70 percent—from the con-
invented a fiendishly cunning new kind tinuous light background.
of laser running on quantum dots Thus the laser, brilliantly, is able to efficiently and last a long time. The
which, rather than producing pulses almost turn itself off and go dark. In precious metal platinum has been the
of light, actually emits pulses of intense itself this would be rather unimpressive, catalyst of choice for most researchers,
darkness. but the dark pulse laser goes briefly but it has several drawbacks: it’s expensive
Unsurprisingly but mildly sinisterly, dark and then comes back on in just and it breaks down over time in fuel-cell
the new invention has been dubbed 90 picoseconds. As the dark-pulse can reactions. The researchers at Brown have
the “dark pulse laser”. It works using be measured, the laser is thus a means demonstrated that a nanoparticle with a
extremely clever quantum dots which of measuring time very precisely. palladium core and an iron-platinum shell
unlike regular boring quantum dots outperforms commercially available pure-
The boffins of the US National Institute platinum catalysts, and lasts longer. In
are made out of “nanostructured of Standards and Technology, who
semiconductor materials” grown in laboratory tests, the new palladium/iron-
unlocked the secrets of darkness, are platinum nanoparticles generated 12
special US government labs. chuffed as ninepence with their new times more current than the pure platinum
“Quantum dots are known for unusual kit. They consider that it could be ones, with the output remaining consistent
behaviour,” according to a statement handy in the next generation of optical over 10,000 cycles - whereas the platinum
issued by the labs in question. When atomic ultraclocks and/or superpowered models began to deteriorate after 1,000
electricity is put into these dots, the networking and comms kit of the cycles. Vismadeb Mazumder, a graduate
nano cunningness causes them all to future. student and co-author of the study, says
behave like individual atoms and thus “[T]his is a very good demonstration that
they all emit light at the same frequency catalysts with a core and a shell can be
in time with each other – hence it is Brown chemists made readily in half-gram quantities in
coherent laser light. the lab, they’re active, and they last. The
But that’s not the clever part. The clever
report promising next step is to scale them up for commercial
use, and we are confident we’ll be able to
part is this: advance in fuel-cell do that.” Their findings were reported in
The new laser depends on the qdots’
unusual energy dynamics, which have
technology the Journal of the American Chemical
Society.
the effect of stabilizing dark pulses. Chemists at Brown University and the Oak
After emitting light, qdots recover Ridge National Laboratory, both in the
energy from within rapidly (in about 1 United States, are reporting a promising
picosecond) but more slowly (in about advance in fuel-cell technology. Fuel cells
200 picoseconds) from energy inputs require a catalyst that can operate
originating outside the qdots in the
laser cavity. This creates a progression
of overall energy gains gradually giving
way to overall energy losses. Eventually,
the laser reaches a steady state of
provide vital clues to additional speed, throughput and Arrayit Corporation Executive Todd
Martinsky said, “We are pleased that CSRIO
affordability.
detoxification of the Arrayit’s microarray platform empowers
chose NanoPrint(TM) to further oceanic
microbial research. This information is vital
oceans the CSRIO to manufacture microarrays,
glass substrates or “chips” containing
to global ecology including understanding
and implementing the most efficient means
Arrayit Corporation is a leader in life microscopic DNA spots that enable the of remediating the oil spill in the Gulf of
sciences and healthcare technology, rapid identification of bacteria and other Mexico.” Arrayit Corporation President Dr.
reports today that the company has microbes present in the Indian Ocean and Mark Schena added, “Ocean bacteria
installed its patented and proprietary Tasman Sea. The Environmental Genomics naturally degrade millions of metric tons
NanoPrint(TM) LM60 Enterprise Level Team at the Marine and Atmospheric of oil each year by converting hydrocarbons
Research and Wealth from Oceans, seeping from the ocean floor into harmless
National Research Flagship is seeking to CO2 and H2O. Arrayit is proud to facilitate
scientific research into natural processes
such as these that are keys to neutralizing
massive ecological challenges.”
“For me the two things in life that
I cannot live without are my music and
my wonderful six year old son,”
says Ms Sandra Bojić, the Sales and consists of a quick fruit snack. By 6.50 am simply playing children’s games. We don’t
Marketing Director of M-Profil. Her role I am on the road and on the way to the watch TV as a family and I catch up with
is a demanding one in a thriving com - office. I dress formally for work and mostly the news by reading e-newspapers. I find
pany that specialises in the production wear Croatian brands. that I don’t have enough time for hobbies,
of metal components for the construc- but on those rare moments when I do
When I arrive at work the first thing I do
tion industry. This 15 year old company have some time, I like to do clay modeling
is check my emails. I communicate a lot
is based in Croatia and is growing and I find it helps me unwind at the end
by email, but also by telephone and face
continually, with plans to expand into of the day.
to face when dealing with colleagues and
the European market. Since M-Profil was clients. Attendance at meetings is also a At weekends we spend time with friends
founded the staff has increased from significant part of my role, and I believe and I occasionally go to the theatre with
4 people to 520, and the company is that excellent communication and my best friend. I also like to go biking now
constantly developing innovative new delegation of tasks is very important. and again and in the Winter I go to ‘Tai Bo’
products. classes.
I enjoy the diversity of my job and the
dynamics involved. I spend much of my As each working day draws to a close
work time developing our customer I usually summarize my day and set goals
Sandra Bojić, the Sales and Marketing network and dealing with marketing for what I want to achieve tomorrow.
Director of M-Profil, is 37 years of age, and issues. My position involves a degree of I don’t read novels at bedtime. In fact, my
was born on the Adriatic coast, in the town travel by car and plane, which I enjoy, current reading material is a parenting
of Split. Interestingly, this town was also
although I do miss my family if I am away book that helps me to focus on how to
the birth place of the Roman Emperor,
for lengthy periods. reach a balance between being a great
Diocletian. Ms Bojić lives with her partner
mum and being successful in what I do
and son in a house with a garden. At 10 am I usually take brunch, which I
for a living.”
buy from our outsourced canteen. I find
As well as being responsible for the
it relaxing to listen to the radio during The support of her family is a constant in
marketing strategy for the whole of
brunch, but for me the most important Ms Bojić’s life. She has a number of
M-Profil, Ms Bojić participates in meetings
meal of the day is lunch. I eat this with my passions, one of which is the Mediterranean
as part of a supervisory board and is a
family usually at about 4pm as I finish lifestyle. Ms Bojić was also heavily
member of the European project ‘EASIE’
work at 3.30 pm on most days. I cook influenced by the two and a half years she
(Ensuring Advancement in Sandwich
seasonal food for my family and we gather spent in London in the UK. By far her
Construction through Innovation and
around the table and discuss our daily biggest passions though are her family
Exploitation). Ms Bojić combines her busy
activities during the meal. On special and her music, as she says, “for me the
work schedule with caring for her six year
occasions we will eat out at a restaurant two things in life that I cannot live without
old son.
when I will indulge in the occasional glass are my music and my wonderful six year
Here she describes a typical day in her of wine. I also have a sweet tooth and a old son.”
life: nice piece of quality chocolate or some
Her motto in life is, “live and let live a great
ice cream is always a welcome treat.
“My alarm usually wakes me at 6.15 am, life”. When summing up the characteristics
and I then get my son ready for kinder- In the evenings I like to set time aside for that define her as a person, Ms Bojić
garten. We eat breakfast as a family; my my son, when we do different activities comments that they are, “strong will and
son, my partner and me, and this usually such as drawing, painting, writing or perseverance.”
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NO-4265 Håvik
6531 JC Nijmegen
Norway
T. +31(0)24 356 89 11
Email: info@smit-trafo.nl
Market Manager - Kristian Midbøe
www.smittransformatoren.nl
Tel: +47 52 85 46 17
E-mail: kristian.midboe@hydro.com
www.hydro.com
NO-4265 Håvik
6531 JC Nijmegen
Norway
T. +31(0)24 356 89 11
Email: info@smit-trafo.nl
Market Manager - Kristian Midbøe
www.smittransformatoren.nl
Tel: +47 52 85 46 17
E-mail: kristian.midboe@hydro.com
www.hydro.com